Chateau d'Oex (from Greater Britain Messenger, page 60)

The Greater Britain Messenger — date not established (issue undated). One of St Peter’s First World War documents, from the years when British prisoners of war were interned at Château-d’Œx, 1916–17. Transcribed in full from the original cutting held in St Peter’s Anglican Church press archive, Château-d’Œx.

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Headline as printed: Chateau d’Oex (from Greater Britain Messenger, page 60)

Context (end of previous article)

made to extinguish the fire. The house just above the officers was wrecked by a shell in the great bombardment of July 1915.”

Chateau d’Oex.

The Rev. E. Dudley Lampen writes :—

“On Thursday, March 8, the organ, which has been placed in St. Peter’s Church to commemorate the historic stay of the British soldiers in Château d’Oex, was solemnly dedicated by the Rural Dean, and opened by Colonel S. C. F. Jackson, D.S.O., the Senior Officer in command, who made an effective and sympathetic speech. It was a most interesting service, the dedication of a lasting memorial to this remarkable historical incident, the sojourn of 750 British soldiers in this valley. Although the day was inauspicious, and a driving snow blizzard prevented many attending, yet a large congregation assembled to assist in the setting apart of the organ for the service of God. Then an organ recital was given by Mr. G. Middleton Rowe, A.R.C.M., organist of All Saints’, Vevey.

“This organ will be a valuable monument to our soldiers, and we hope to put up a brass tablet to state the fact of the organ having been built as a memorial to the British interned troops.

“Colonel Jackson is most kindly interesting himself in the scheme, even as Colonel [?] hart set the project going at the commencement by acting as Hon. Treasurer. All the officers are assisting in the completion of the work. We are offering for their deliverance from Germany.

“Our soldier or-ganist, Lance-Corpl. Lester, is a great help in the services of the church. He is not merely an organist at two important churches in England and is a performer of considerable talent and execution”

Calais.

The Rev. W. P. Parker writes :— follows of the Good Friday and Easter services:—

“The tastefully decorated church was quite full, chairs having to be placed at the back and all up the aisles, to say nothing of the lobby. It was most enjoyable to hear the large congregation singing the well-known Easter hymns. On Good Friday evening a male voice choir of forty members gave a capital rendering of Stainer’s Crucifixion, which was much appreciated by the officers and men present. There are very many at the Calais base who take a real interest in the church; they say it reminds them so much of home. This is especially the case with choristers who have sung in their respective churches for years.

“Our weekly evening for officers and the [cut off]

Handwritten annotation

None visible.

About this transcription

Source: The Greater Britain Messenger — date not established (issue undated)
Archive item: commemoration-st-peters-organ (1 image)
Transcription: Machine-transcribed in two independent passes.
Status: Verified before publication — two independent transcriptions were compared, and any reading still in doubt is left unresolved and noted below rather than settled.
⚠️ The archive filename’s date is wrong for this item. The date above is taken from the cutting’s own annotation or masthead, which is the authority.

Transcribed verbatim, preserving the spelling, punctuation and capitalisation of the original. Square brackets mark a reading that is uncertain or a passage cut off by the edge of the scan. Where the text of a figure or a name could not be established, it is shown as unresolved rather than guessed.

Editorial notes

Uncertain readings

“Colonel [?] hart” — The surname or initial + surname after “Colonel” in the second paragraph of the Chateau d’Oex letter is unclear; appears to read as two words, possibly “Wane hart” or similar, but exact reading uncertain due to print quality and abbreviation.
[cut off] — Right column final paragraph cuts off mid-sentence; last phrase is incomplete.